On Thursday, the Supreme Court directed Himachal Pradesh to release 137 cusecs of surplus water to Delhi to alleviate the city's ongoing water crisis.

A bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and KV Vishwanathan was addressing a plea from the Delhi government, which sought immediate water release to tackle the severe shortage in the national capital.

The court instructed Himachal Pradesh to notify the Haryana board before releasing the water and mandated Haryana to ensure an uninterrupted supply to Delhi. "The Haryana government should allow the flow of water from Himachal Pradesh to reach Wazirabad in Delhi without any hindrance so that the people of Delhi get drinking water," the court stated.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court emphasized that the Delhi government must prevent water wastage and avoid politicizing the issue, according to PTI.

Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj responded positively to the court's order, highlighting that the city's water allocation was set in 1993 and has not increased despite the population growth. Bharadwaj mentioned his discussions with Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhu about purchasing water, which the CM approved. He criticized Haryana's BJP government for obstructing water access and called for central government intervention. "What the Supreme Court said today should have been done earlier. I want to thank the Supreme Court and the Himachal Pradesh Government," he added.

The Supreme Court's decision came after an Upper Yamuna River Board meeting on Wednesday, where members acknowledged the urgent need for water due to extreme heat in both states. This meeting aimed to address Delhi's acute water shortage.

Delhi has been grappling with a severe water scarcity. Last week, the Delhi government approached the Supreme Court for additional water supplies from neighboring states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh, citing increased demand due to the heatwave. In response, the Delhi government implemented emergency measures, including banning the use of potable water for car washing and construction, and imposing a Rs 2,000 fine for water wastage.